Itching for a Fender, which one?

[Tal_175]

I think it's more that strat neck pickups have a particular sort of resonant bit hint of "quack" to them that teles don't have, whereas teles have more neutral neck tone that you can mistake for other things like P90s or DeArmonds. Think "Wind Cries Mary" vs "Soul Man". Agreed, though that tele bridge pickups are mostly higher output and fatter sounding, thought it really does depend on the specific pickups.

I hear what you describe "quack" in Strat neck pickup as scooped tone with little bass (which is a beautiful tone). To my ears, the characteristic Tele neck pickup sound is bassier and rounder. It might be partly because of the metal cover. Perhaps that's why rockers tend to describe Tele neck pickup as muddy and dull. They also describe the jazz guitar tone the same way, lol.

[Doctor Jeff]

A Squier Classic Vibe Tele is a great buy IMO. (I’ve never had one, but have a CV Fender Jazz Bass.)

If you’re the least bit handy, get parts from GFS and put together your own. You can get a plug and play harness so there’s no soldering involved. Will cost ~$250 and take you 2-3 hours to assemble, and will compare to any cheapish Tele out there.

I put together one recently and sold it at auction for $600!

[Litterick]

This is not The Gear Page.

[Doctor Jeff]

This is not The Gear Page.

[JazzPadd]

Personally, I'd go with a Tele. A mid-60s Tele was my first guitar decades ago, it was very versatile. I used it in garage bands and a wedding band throughout the 70s and 80s. Although I sold it in the 1990s, the Fender itch remained. Now I have two Fender Japan Teles, a 1980s "Sonny" replica with a humbucker in the neck position, and a Limited Collection Tele with vintage style pickups. Perhaps try out a few Teles in a music store. It may just be the thing to scratch that itch?

[Sam Sherry]

Never used a Fender before, itching to try one. Something cheap just to fool around with, maybe a used Squier. But which one?

Strat, Tele, Jag, Jazzm?

Mostly in jest I note that there are some other choices:

This is not The Gear Page.

It all depends on what your definition of "is" is.

But yeah, Woody. TGP is a great resource. So is TDPRI.com -- the Telecaster discussion page.

Scout GuitarCenter.com
Better, scout MusicGoRound.com
But for a banger starter Strat or Tele it's hard to beat ShopGoodWill.com

[Cunamara]

No. Tele single coils sound fatter than Strat pickups. Strats have that scooped and thin but sweet thing going on. Think funk rhythm guitar.

Not necessrily. Dutchbopper on his Strat, bone stock with .010s...

[Tal_175]

Not necessrily. Dutchbopper on his Strat, bone stock with .010s...

Not sure how this relates to what I said. He is not comparing a stock strat with a stock tele in the same amp/eq/tone control settings. Yes, you can get a decent jazz tone on a strat with some tweaking and turning knobs. I don't disagree with that. But what I hear in differences between these guitars in their more typical configurations can only be tested with a comparison in the same settings.

This comparison is consistent with what I hear as their differences:

[Woody Sound]

But for a banger starter Strat or Tele it's hard to beat ShopGoodWill.com

Good will bargains?

Used Jewelry & Gemstones Thrift Items For Sale Online | ShopGoodwill.com

[Gitterbug]

Never been a Strat guy. Tele neither. Last year I found a used but immaculate MIC Tele Thinline something, mahogany body, one F-hole. 315 Euros IIRC. A very gig-friendly axe, with good jazz sound from the neck PU. My bias for action has weakened with age, so I may be gone before finding the right choice of strings - the only variable I'm gonna touch. A few weeks ago a guy played jazz on a far pricier Tele stringed with flatwounds. Very round and rich sound.

[Bluedawg]

I love how the springs on a traditional strat contribute to the character of the tones.

I need to spend some time with a Jazzmaster and a Jaguar. Not sure if I've ever even played one of these.

Lots of potential with any of these guitars. They're popular because they're good guitars in the first place.

[Woody Sound]

I need to spend some time with a Jazzmaster and a Jaguar. Not sure if I've ever even played one of these.

I just noticed that the Jag is short scale, 24". That's almost Byrdland territory.

[GuyBoden]

I just noticed that the Jag is short scale, 24". That's almost Byrdland territory.

Both the Jaguar and the Jazzmaster are great guitars.

Yes the Jaguar is 24inch scale, the Jazzmaster is 25.5inch scale like the majority of Fender guitars.

Jazzmasters were designed to play Jazz by Leo Fender in 1958.

"Fender unveiled its Jazzmaster guitar in 1958, intending to land a one-two punch with an instrument that would be the company’s top-of-the line successor to the Stratocaster and appeal to serious jazz guitarists, a type of musician that had so far eluded Fender’s widening reach."
History of the Fender Jazzmaster | Fender Guitars

The Fender Jazzmaster's pickups are unique, they are not P90's, they are a wider flatter pickup with a fatter warmer tone.

Fender Jazzmaster below:

[ESCC]

My first quality electric guitar was a Fender Jazzmaster, I was playing in rock bands in the late 60s. I traded it for a Les Paul, which I still have. Later in life I purchased an AVRI Strat then a Tele. Strat and Tele two very different guitars, I love what each brings to the gig. The guitar I prefer typically depends on the day of the week and my mood.

[Cunamara]

Not sure how this relates to what I said. He is not comparing a stock strat with a stock tele in the same amp/eq/tone control settings. Yes, you can get a decent jazz tone on a strat with some tweaking and turning knobs. I don't disagree with that. But what I hear in differences between these guitars in their more typical configurations can only be tested with a comparison in the same settings.

Why would my post be a comparison? Just saying and showing one can get an outstanding jazz sound with a Strat. Tweaking and turning knobs is how it works with all guitars.

[Tal_175]

Why would my post be a comparison?

Because my post you qouted was a comparison in response to OPs question about the differences between tele and strat single coils.
Yes, you can tweak almost any pickup tone to get a decent jazz tone.
If I used a strat strictly for jazz and wanted singlecoilish tone; I would probably go with noiseless pickups. That would get you there with almost no tweaking.

[Stringswinger]

Because my post you qouted was a comparison in response to OPs question about the differences between tele and strat single coils.
Yes, you can tweak almost any pickup tone to get a decent jazz tone.
If I used a strat strictly for jazz and wanted singlecoilish tone; I would probably go with noiseless pickups. That would get you there with almost no tweaking.

I get great jazz tone on my Strat with Noiseless Pickups with no tweaking. I get great jazz tone on my Humbucker equipped Strat with no tweaking. To be fair, my third Strat with stock Fender single coils takes some effort and tweaking to get a great jazz tone. But so did a stock Fender Tele than I used to own. That lipstick neck pickup on a stock Tele needs some tweaking for a great jazz tone, IMO.

[Danny W.]

This gives me an excuse to post these again. My first Fender, a '65 Jaguar, and the only Fender I ever gigged. Bought it for surf, wound up using it for this 1966-'68:

and this 1969-1972, after which I went back to using a Gibson ES-355TDSV:

Have no urge to own one again.

Danny W.

[fep]

I have the Fender Nashville Tele, and now I see there is a Squire Nashville Tele for $430 new. Access to this page has been denied.

[Stringswinger]

I have the Fender Nashville Tele, and now I see there is a Squire Nashville Tele for $430 new. Access to this page has been denied.

That Tele sure looks a lot like a Strat to me.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

That Tele sure looks a lot like a Strat to me.

It identifies as a Strat.

[Stringswinger]

It identifies as a Strat.

What pronouns does it prefer?

[Bobby Timmons]

What pronouns does it prefer?

But don't ask it its orientation. :P

[wolflen]

[QUOTE=DanielleOM;1339008]I went with the Reverend Pete Anderson Eastsider T guitar. I just liked the specs better than what I was seeing on the Fender Models. Fender makes so many models at numerous price points that I find I get rather confused by it all. It has a 10 14 fret board radius.

Pete talks about the guitar about 15 minutes into this video./QUOTE]

Ohhh..I used to hang with guys like this..never ending stories told in all night coffee shops ..wondering if they were real..until they played..

no wonder about it..

[DanielleOM]

It identifies as a Strat.

For one that identifies as a Strat take a look at this one.

Pete Anderson Eastsider S Guitar - Reverend Guitars | We know what players want.